Trade show news :Outdoor Retailer Winter and Summer Market Tradeshows to Remain in Salt Lake City through 2016

Outdoor
Retailer (OR) organizers, backed by the unanimous support of the
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) board of directors, has decided that
the Winter and Summer Market tradeshows will continue at the Salt Palace
Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, through the end of 2016.

Outdoor
Retailer began hosting the tradeshow in Salt Lake City in 1996 and was
previously contracted with Salt Lake through 2014.

"Outdoor
Retailer is grateful to be able to remain in Salt Lake City for the next
three years," said Kenji Haroutunian, Nielsen Expo Outdoor Group vice
president and OR show director. "The industry has a collective affection
for this town; the shared outdoor passions, cost efficiency of doing
business, and the partnership of regional and state officials have all
directly contributed to the current vibrancy and success of the show."

The
contract extension comes after 18 months of vigorous work with Salt
Lake City to answer concerns about inadequate housing and infrastructure
for the OR Winter and Summer Market shows, two of the fastest growing
shows in the country. Tradeshow organizers have also initiated
discussions with more than 3,000 tradeshow stakeholders regarding the
growth trajectory of the show through surveys, advisory boards,
one-on-one conversations, and through the Collective Voice website, an
online sounding board and information site dedicated to the future venue
question.

For the next three years, show participants now have
the option to utilize the infrastructure solutions put in place to
accommodate the Olympics in 2002 and/or the improved transportation
infrastructure that now exists for hotels not in the immediate downtown
area.

The longer-term growth trajectory and 'needs list' of the
show remain a discussion between the outdoor industry and viable venues
throughout the country. In the short term, the Summer Market show will
continue to utilize a further expanded outdoor structure space, adjacent
to the convention center.

In the last four years, the Outdoor
Retailer Summer Market show has seen a 13 percent average growth in
overall attendance and an average 11 percent growth for the Winter
Market show, with both shows experiencing double digit percentage growth
in the number of attending stores over those same four years. The show
matched attendee growth with an increase in net-sold square feet, seven
percent for Summer Market and six percent for Winter Market.

"Discussions
about longer term solutions beyond 2016 are still ongoing with Salt
Lake and other potential host cities," continued Haroutunian. "We
understand everyone is anxious for a longer-term decision, but making
sure the show has a home that fits the needs of the industry is hugely
important. The extension period will help us make sure we get it right."

The
two year extension comes with the support of the OIA who has been a
partner in the process of collecting industry feedback, and in providing
solid intelligence and insight into the concerns, needs and preferences
of their members.

"Outdoor Retailer is a great partner. We've
been working very closely with them every step of the way and are
confident in their efforts to meet the needs of the industry and the
show," said OIA's President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer.

Background
In
the last 16 years, Outdoor Retailer has grown to be the iconic
tradeshow for the outdoor industry, driving more than $40 million
annually into the Salt Lake City community. While this growth has been
positive for the market, the tradeshow now requires more floor space,
hotel rooms, rental cars and cabs than the city has to offer.

In
early 2012, Outdoor Retailer and OIA initiated an industry-wide
discussion on the direction and location of the semi-annual tradeshow
within the "Collective Voice" website, a destination to learn about the
event's history, discuss growth trajectory, and examine the pros and
cons for a small list of potential venues that could host the show.

By
summer it was clear that many in the industry had strong opinions on
the venue question, but no clear consensus on any alternate location or
interest in severely limiting the show's growth in an expanding market.

Following
hundreds of face-to-face and phone conversations leading into the
Summer Market tradeshow, Outdoor Retailer rolled out a formal survey to
bring quantitative validation to growing industry sentiment. Salt Lake
City was constantly ranked a top choice of both retailers and exhibitors
- if expanded exhibit space and hotel rooms could be provided. Key
findings of that survey are available here.

In January 2013,
Salt Lake City brings to the table creative and viable short term
solutions to the outstanding housing situation. Outdoor Retailer signs a
two-year extension to its contract with Salt Lake, while continuing to
pursue longer term solutions with Salt Lake and a handful of alternate
host cities.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor
Retailer (OR) brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry
advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation
through tradeshows, product demo events and web-based business
solutions. Produced by Nielsen Expositions and based in San Juan
Capistrano, California, Outdoor Retailer also provides and promotes
retailer education, advocacy, responsibility and critical face-to-face
business initiatives within the outdoor industry.

Recently named among Trade Show News Network's 25 fastest-growing tradeshows by attendance, Outdoor Retailer (outdoorretailer.com)
connects approximately 46,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its
Summer and Winter Market shows, and thousands more through its
year-round online resources and platforms.

About Outdoor Industry Association
Based
in Boulder, Colo., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading
trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of
Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000
manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives, and
retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment, and
services. For more information, go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

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